Perched Up High, Inspired by 'Magnum, P.I.'

March 20, 2014 12:06 p.m. ET

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The owners, business partners Scott Watson and Laurie Robertson, bought this 9.4-acre property in Ninole, Hawaii for roughly $1.3 million in 2006, according to real-estate agent Kelly H. Moran of Hilo Brokers Ltd., who closed the deal. Formerly a macadamia nut orchard that fell into disuse, the owners jumped at the chance to buy and development the land, which overlooks a tiered waterfall that runs into the Pacific Ocean. They completed this contemporary compound in 2012 and named it 'Water Falling'—a play on Frank Lloyd Wright's seminal Fallingwater project.
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The main home, which measures roughly 8,300 square feet, not including garage space, is built with concrete and clad in travertine stone, said Mr. Watson, 53, a real-estate developer who built the home with Mr. Robertson as an investment property. One of the most notable features, the helicopter landing area, was inspired in part by Mr. Watson's love of the detective show 'Magnum, P.I.,' starring Tom Selleck. It featured scenes of helicopters flying above Hawaii, where the show is set.
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Mr. Watson has lived in the home for the past year and a half, he said. The property, which includes a separate storage and sports compound and a guesthouse, took about four years to build, and another 1½ years to complete the pool. He would not disclose the construction cost, but said the work required some 500 truckloads of concrete.
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There is a putting green, pictured here, on the property. All of the sod used on the property was selected for its tolerance to saltwater air, he said.
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This detached building can accommodate tennis and basketball, among other sports, and includes seating for about 450 people, Mr. Watson said. Below the sports level is a large four-car garage space that can also store up to two helicopters.
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'Everything was to accommodate the view of the waterfall,' Mr. Watson said. The infinity-edge pool area includes a 16-foot-deep diving pool and a 25-meter lap pool with three lanes, he said. There is also a water slide, shown at left.
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Inside, the rooms feature either travertine or oyster quartzite stone. 'You can drag a suitcase across it and it doesn't take any wear,' Mr. Watson said. Durability was a big part of their design mantra.
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Mr. Watson said they wanted to incorporate fine wood in the home, but rather than use it for flooring, where it could be scuffed, they decided to use Sapele African mahogany on the ceilings.
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The property includes five bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and two partial baths, according to the listing.
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A pneumatic vacuum elevator, which uses air pressure to move the platform. It has three stops and is large enough to fit a wheelchair, Mr. Watson said.
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There is a bar on every floor of the home, Mr. Watson said. 'We tried to make it so wide-open that you can see the waterfall at all times,' he said about the kitchen floor plan.
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The property was listed for $26.5 million with Kelly H. Moran, owner and president of Hilo Brokers, in June 2013. It is still on the market at that price. The owners plan to go to absolute auction—one in which there is no minimum bid or reserve price—on March 22. It will take place at the home. The auction will be held by Concierge Auctions.
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